Everything You Didn't Know About Caterpillars

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Here's everything you never knew about caterpillars and butterflies.
This video answers all of the following questions:
- How do caterpillars breathe?
- Are caterpillars insects?
- How many legs do caterpillars have?
- What are spiracles?
- What are prolegs?
- How do caterpillars hold on to twigs?
- How do caterpillars metamorphosize into a chrysalis?
- How to tell a male monarch butterfly from a female monarch butterfly?

[@osteoclast6884]

The real chrysalis was inside us all along

[@Campbell_P]

ewwwwwww

[@benjaminbranam2498]

And the friends we made along the way.

[@Clam_Rhino]

I can feel it inside of me

[@lilyfhonazhel2675]

Wriggling, writhing

[@SilverHatPebble99]

​@@lilyfhonazhel2675 warm, and wet.

[@ScottyFang]

I didn’t just learn something today, my entire understanding of butterflies was table-flipped

[@theonlyabberdabber]

The chrysalis coming out of the 'pillar's skin literally blew my mind. There was an audible "Holy Sh*t!" moment.

[@cosmicrais]

Insects breathe out of their sides?? How have I made it this far without knowing that!?

[@stoplookingatmyyoutubehandle]

4:33 - The single best ad transition I've ever heard. That's EXACTLY what Caterpillars need. 😂

[@sheamagnus6826]

When I was little I used to catch caterpillars, mostly those which would later become swallowtails, and put them in a jar with air holes and lots of what I caught them on, usually dill weed, and a twig. Then i would watch them finish their growth and develop their chrysalis. It was always super exciting and beautiful to see them finally hatch out as butterflies, even if they do look like snot rags for the first few minutes hahaha. After I would set them free so they could continue their lifecycle and go lay eggs somewhere. I have many found memories of doing this and I hope to do the same with my kids someday.

[@javierhillier4252]

as somone who has some emperor moth caterpillar I can say I love watching them grow an then become either moths or butterflies

[@bruhtnt4258]

@@javierhillier4252 I did the same thing with Rhinoceros Beetles.

[@chris-ti7sh]

Its always exciting to see them grow, I love raising caterpilllars and seing them become butterflies

[@earl-lyzandercraige7663]

“ Jars with air holes” are so relatable 😭. I would catch all kinds of organism back then, from snails to bugs to giant spiders. I would just watch them all day long, fascinated by their uniqueness. No gadgets, no internet, just my young scientist self and his little friends in jars , good ol’ days.

[@notdesmondesmond]

Please dont put your kids in a jar with air holes

[@cecillewolters1995]

Note that there are caterpillars that spin a cocoon first before becoming a chrysalis, most of these become moths instead of butterflies.

[@lilahclark6108]

Yep, but not most of them. All of them. This is one of the main ways (along with moths being nocturnal) to tell moths and butterflies apart.

[@sebastianmunoz9505]

​@@lilahclark6108moths love light

[@demonking86420]

​@@lilahclark6108 and moths have sexual dimorphism: those comb antennae are a characteristic of male moths only

[@anjachan]

"Moths" are butterflies too.

[@TheRedRobin96]

@@anjachan Actually moths were around first and butterflies split off from moths something like 80 million years ago.

[@ospididious]

I really appreciate that you don't just Site your references, but you also SIGHT your references for us all to see. Keep up the great work!

[@TheToneBender]

"Look up here, towards the front" Apparently I've been looking at its butt the whole time

[@radio9632]

Same. Old habits die hard ahhahaha

[@anru_tofu]

Not only are your videos always so informative, your editing style is so pleasing and relaxing! ❤

[@user-ek7xm3hu1w]

I agree fully! I really enjoyed it!

[@DemanaJaire]

Remind me a bit of the YT channel Baumgartner Restoration, but more light-hearted.

[@DustyHoney]

I love this video and I’m gonna need a part 2 bc i want to know what’s going on inside caterpillars as they grow

[@xt3916]

I learned more from this video than going to school. I remember back in Elementary in 2004 our teacher said caterpillar form a web around themselves which then filorm a chrysalis

[@TaylorMitsuki]

Yeah, I never imagined they were actually SPLITTING THEIR FACES OPEN! That is the most fascinating thing how this perceived soft tissue hardens and falls off. I could never imagine my eyes flaking off but I'm sure it's happening all the time lol.

[@4DTrue]

Your teacher was somewhat correct, and you might be misremembering some details. Many moth caterpillars spin what's called a "cocoon" out of web around themselves, before turning into a chrysalis inside it. Your teacher might have been referring to that, instead of the actual chrysalis itself.

[@stefanostokatlidis4861]

This is true for moths.

[@xt3916]

@Niko the caterpillar my teacher show us and even have as a pet for us to see turn into a butterfly is a caterpillar, it was not a moth

[@4DTrue]

@@xt3916 Moth larvae are also called caterpillars, so it being a caterpillar does not exclude it from being a moth. If it spun a cocoon, it could not have been a butterfly, as they don't do that during metamorphosis.

[@NLBusiness391]

What an fascinating, informative, calming, peaceful video. I watched 30 seconds and immediately subscribed. I also LOVE that you confidently and repeatedly say “I was wrong”. Learning you were incorrect about a scientific fact is always an amazing opportunity to NO LONGER be incorrect about said fact. Being wrong isn’t something to be fearful and avoidant of, it’s important to enthusiastically embrace accepting when we are factually incorrect and then adjusting our thinking. It’s the only way to truly learn and grow.

[@1jotun136]

As a bipedal ape, I'm definitely pro legs.

[@ravenmillieweikel3847]

So we're not gonna talk about how once the caterpillar becomes the chrysalis all of its insides dissolve into a soup and then congeal into a butterfly?

[@FatassDuolingoBird]

No man can explain such a bizarre…

[@reillymilburn8952]

Impressive quality here - the format addressing misconceptions is extremely effective. A science communication force to be reckoned with. When are we going to see the Veritasium collab?

[@breannawenke7168]

I appreciate this too much. I started laughing in the middle though, because I could only hear the music as if it was the music that is in Curious George… but seriously, I love this! Good stuff.

[@homeschoolshenanigans4511]

I am so digging the Mr Rogers voice and music effect. Soooo nostalgic. Not sure if it is on purpose or not but gave me the Neighborhood feels. And I am watching this with my daughter next.

[@neznamkakvoimedastavim2489]

Just a few days ago me and my friends were talking about how transformation inside the cocoon looks, thanks for making this

[@ML7WL]

Another point: the caterpillar is not inside de chrysalis, it IS the chrysalis. But if it is a moth, the generally it is INSIDE the cocoon.

[@elenacosta1040]

I laughed out loud at the “you know what this caterpillar needs?” bit

[@GaiaCarney]

Elena Costa - that got me, too 🤣

[@noliadona-di7bd]

Great job on that joke 🤣🤣🤣👏

[@Nonume]

I love your editing style! Such an unique way of making educational/nature videos! Soooo much better than any national geographics/discovery stuff! Would love to see a netflix documentary from you!!

[@Bromkss]

Me and my class watched this. We were learning about caterpillars!

[@asekun022]

Love this guys, he always admits that he was wrong 😅then corrects himself with a mind blowing info

[@damiencouturee6240]

Damn, one minute old? Never been this early for anything haha. I should be leaving for work but I got 5 mins for this lol

[@wolfbanesons]

i take care of silkworms and silkmoths, its crazy that the silkworm literally sheds its lungs. also you can see its blood pumping through its body lol

[@averageday]

That add transition was so smooth I can’t

[@borischan5252]

since ppl are saying they turn in a soup of cells inside the Coccon, I am wondering how much of the damages on a Caterpillar fro before would affect the final form

[@kamenriderlex]

Great, and also the best example of the scientific process for some reason

[@omega-xk4gj]

*Huh, your Caterpie evolving* **Dun Dun Dun Dun Dun Dun** *Congratulations, Your Caterpie, evolved into Metapod* *Metapod wants to learn HARDEN*

[@luisaparicioMendoza]

I admire you a lot, this is some National Geographic quality stuff! Greetings from Panama and thanks for your work

[@Jonah-gi3ge]

I actually knew most of this! Every summer I check my milkweed for monarch eggs and grow them to adulthood before release. It's so fun :)

[@GalileoRamosSkeletons]

This is very interesting, thanks for make these videos!

[@indivsultanabinavsi8909]

"Do you know what this caterpillar needs? A website!"

[@silviacoturri7359]

I loved your explanation.

[@Jumpingspiderlife]

This is fantastic info! I have raised caterpillars for a few years now and didn’t know about those holes they use to breath! 😮

[@davehart1027]

How do you raise one? I got attacked by one, now I think I have to raise them

[@Jumpingspiderlife]

@@davehart1027 most are easy, when you buy them theirs always advice on the websites, just make sure you have a food source available

[@fefe3424]

love this channel! everything is so interesting!

[@isaiahavelino8638]

Love your vids. Use them to teach my classes!

[@marmalade8915]

Now this explains why caterpillars feet feel so sharp when they're on my hand

[@eletric_dog]

the science teacher we never asked for but needed

[@adnanasghar2442]

your videos are entertaining and you encouraged me to collect insects now i have several like African grass blue and blue tiger butterflies

[@Grimoi]

Refreshing editing style. So relaxing. Well Done!

[@felixzcontinue311]

Was listening to this video as I multitask, and then i heard at 4:32 "You know what this caterpillar needs? A website. Square Space-" I immediately yelled "A WEBSITE???!!" (even tho I know the ad is coming), this is so funny lol

[@AminulIslam-st8tv]

Yea, all a caterpillar will ever need is definitely a website😆

[@skootergirl22]

I raised some painted ladys and its pretty interesting to watch a catapilla metamorphosis into a butterfly

[@lavenderkong836]

This man is a lot braver than a lot of people! He can admit that he was wrong about something!😂😂

[@rodneybever9583]

Cool! I know the term instar from my tarantula hobby but I didn't know the term applied to Insects too.

[@silviacoturri7359]

Outstanding this vídeo.

[@ando1135]

the crazy thing isnt even in this video, its what happens in the chrysalis...they essentially become a liquid and there are certain cells that will become the body, head, wings etc floating around in that goop. and, even after liquifying its been shown that they can still remember certain locations where they once were caterpillars...

[@gawayne1374]

I am so happy I found this channel

[@logan-gf6tc]

I thought I knew the life cycle of a caterpillar... but I was wrong

[@XxCotton_bunnyxX]

“You know what this caterpillar needs, a website.” Me: WAIT REALLY?

[@ulass5703]

i dont undertand anything but his voice is so soothing

[@mehdifarhad1263]

Nature never ceases of Being a diva

[@McGenshinCat]

When caterpillars are in its cocoon it turns to liquid and forms a butter fly for people that ask* How in the world can a caterpillar turn so different when it’s in a cocoon?*

[@metalcats8468]

Thank you for this video! Keep it up

[@somethingnew8336]

Im glad i found this channel

[@omarxz8265]

I’ve been trippin hard on acid all night, its 9:02 AM, and this is truly beautiful

[@latisha20mohamed84]

Fun fact: when we were born we were inside our mothers wombs and females have wombs called “chrysalis” so it means that humans have chrysalis and organs too and water bones and some important body parts like our brain memory’s and heart

[@Nerium_Oleander13]

Chrysalis is just a another word for pupa but it's just exclusive to caterpillars

[@xenomorphoverlord]

@@Nerium_Oleander13 Beetles form chrysalis as well. Don't spread misinformation about bugs

[@Nerium_Oleander13]

@@xenomorphoverlord Either way,A Butterflies/caterpillars Pupa has Been called always a chrysalis But Beetles Pupa has been called Cocoon, pupa and Chrysalis. Although A Moths/caterpillars or larvae s Pupa will always be called a Cocoon but some don't even do cocoons...

[@t_toylette]

i loveeee your videos!

[@worst__]

i wanted to skip the ad but you added caterpillars' timelapses on the side... you did me dirty

[@twin-kleelementaryenglisha7122]

This is awesome!!!

[@thayalves8662]

Ok but the quality of this video is unreal

[@mikesahle1193]

Thank you 🙏 great 👍 job great 👍 view great 👍 explained ☝️👏👏👏👍🎥

[@claudiatoffee]

Shedding is changing his onsie and the prolegs are best legs!!

[@josemarialaguinge]

I love your videos man.

[@RebelGiga]

It is still a mystery to me how caterpillars liquefy their insides and turn into butterflies

[@Atticore]

It's pretty wild! During this process, the caterpillar's body essentially digests itself from the inside out. Specific groups of cells, called imaginal discs, survive this process. These discs were part of the caterpillar's body from when it was very young, and during metamorphosis, they start to rapidly divide and differentiate into the cells needed to form the structures of the adult insect, like the wings, eyes, and legs. The caterpillar doesn't completely liquefy, but many of its tissues do break down into a kind of soup. The enzymes triggered by the hormone ecdysone cause this to happen. The imaginal discs use this pool of nutrients to fuel their growth. So they only *partially* liquify, and it essentially becomes a sorta food source for these discs to rebuild. The caterpillar's goal is to essentially become a giant feed bag for it's future self. And it's vitally important that they store a lot of energy, because a lot of butterflies don't have mouth parts, and thus can't eat. They only have their food stores that last them long enough to mate and lay eggs.

[@cooliipie]

God is great

[@clxqc2912]

Can someone please clarify, is the chrysalis forming in inside the caterpillar and it sheds again during this stage, or (kind of how it looks in the video) the skin turns inside out into a Chrysalis? Also do the shed skins come out like cicada shells?

[@elizabethbeatty8841]

The caterpillar sheds. If you look close you'll notice green wings wrapped around itself that aren't full size yet, and if you'll look real close you can see the outline of its eyes where its head is. Some species will make silk cocoons to protect their funky looking and very vulnerable bodies, others will dig a hole underground. The one at the end though is doing none of that. That is the critter itself in it's awkward teen stage just hanging around and rebuilding itself from the inside out just under it's skin. It's weird, but really neat!

[@clxqc2912]

@@elizabethbeatty8841 thank you for the information! Extremely interesting and awesome.

[@branman399]

@@clxqc2912 and even cooler going on INSIDE the chrysalis! Insects have developmental “spots” called “imaginal discs.” Each one corresponds to a leg, wing, antennae, etc. Butterflies/moths look so different from their caterpillars because these discs migrate to different areas of the body and new genes activate to create something that looks totally different.

[@jilliancrawford7577]

This stage also suggests that the skin of caterpillars aren't made of anything a lot of bottom-feeder insects would eat, which is good for the caterpillar! If it was, such insects would take the opportunity to also target the otherwise defenseless pupa. Some species of insects can only go through their various instar phases when safely alone like the morioworm (a.k.a. super worm) less they be cannibalized or targeted by others of a similar diet.

[@unforgivenyt.]

But what do they do when there doing chrysalis and the skin is ripping out? Do they put it inside or just make it fall?

[@lenixanims8389]

I think i already learned this at school.but i forgot it thanks bro

[@anjachan]

interesting. I learned something new about insects breathing 🙂

[@froisieroriginal]

4:35 there we go and insert our advertisement 😅😁😆😸👌

[@megametexe5129]

I thought I was already subscribed to this Channel…… but I was wrong I’m fixing that now

[@manuelblancodiaz2184]

They are shedding skin like that Pantera song

[@PSPguy2]

I remembered about the dots on the butterfly from one of your previous videos, yea me!

[@juno_illust]

I didn’t know a caterpillar needed a website during metamorphosis. The more u know

[@Ash_the_therian_furry]

Ready to tell this to all my friends whenever we see a caterpillar

[@jfgabito1987]

I love your voice in this video. 😊

[@mark6302]

i have parsley outside with swallowtail caterpillars in various forms right now, i've counted 9.

[@sabonggaming6338]

4:50 the caterpillar was doing push ups 🔥🔥🔥🗣️🗣️🗣️🗣️

[@leona_sparklez5478]

where do you buy the books you got of the insects

[@spicypumpkin8698]

The close up of the insects make me feel ill lol

[@cherrytomatoes2613]

same but its for educational purposes lol

[@AdrianiSunuddin]

4:34 I was wrong throughout of this video, never thought it was a commercial. 😅

[@EmeraldFatalis]

Thumbnail: "These legs are fake." Arrow points at top of caterpillar's back.

[@tyswizzel]

What is the name of that orchestral movement you keep playing in your videos?

[@daniphrog]

Caterpillars are so cool im obsessed

[@isekaiexpress9450]

Sometimes i feel like a caterpillar myself. Maybe i should become a butterfly BY EFFORT.

[@OneDarkCutie]

Lucario got me BUGGIN 🤦‍♂️🤦‍♂️🤦‍♂️

[@korncobb8808]

What about moths!! Their little pupas are made of silk arent they?

[@tuneguy764]

Alternate clickbait title: I WAS WRONG?!?! * insert surprised face)

[@johnmcnally7812]

Nice match cut.

[@josiah-pj6jx]

Godzilla: um mothra is this how you grew? Mothra: yes it is thats how all caterpillars grow. Godzilla: either way you're still a lovely bug to me 😊

[@phoenixfindsfun1605]

1:23 wow, he actually looked at a different book!

[@mistyjewel0]

OMG this was the question in my mind too!🤯 Damn youtube found me out

[@margielyngoc-ong1551]

the thumbnail 💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀

[@thiagopollo]

Sensacional!

[@addyanimationsdragon8591]

I raise monarches in the summer so I already know about instars, fake legs, and breathing holes, I also know male monarch butterflies have two dots which attract females! I love letting them fly around and petting them! They are truly beautiful?

[@addyanimationsdragon8591]

*Beautiful!

[@kenjlee]

Yes, the caterpillar uses silk (I went to school and remembered from school)

[@CoralReaper707]

In a lot of ways, I think caterpillars are cooler than butterflies.

[@reddinosrule5472]

OK I know it’s kind of weird but I already know this I was learning about how the giant centipede thing was able to evolve and then it said something about them breathing through their skin

[@blades3352]

Question why do this transformation if it gets weaker 3:29-3:35

[@eringill6697]

it has to break its whole body down in order to become a butterfly

[@anhondacivic6541]

It's to guarantee that the adults and the larvae don't compete with each other for food